Secamone afzelii

(Roem. & Schult.) K. Schum.

ApocynaceaeLeavesPotential hazards — see below
Caution — Parts of this plant may be toxic or require specific preparation. Verify with multiple sources before consuming.
Secamone afzelii
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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Caution

The leaves are eaten.

Known Hazards

Although taken internally for medical reasons, there is evidence that the plant is poisonous. Drinking an infusion of the leaves can cause vomiting and convulsions, followed sometimes even by death.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland and savannah. It can be in palm groves and along rivers.

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, West Africa,

Countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Comoros, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A small woody climber. It can grow 12 m long. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 2-6 cm long by 1-2 cm wide.

How to Grow

Plants are grown from seeds.

Medicinal Uses

It is used as medicine.

Other Uses

A Shien name in Ivory Coast meaning ‘cord of the tortoise’ suggests that the thin flexible stems are used to make some sort of fibre or binding material. All parts of the plant contain latex. No uses are mentioned.

Notes

It is used as medicine.

Names & Synonyms

Manara, Manar-bale, M'bal, Po-de-malila, Porecududu

Apocynum frutescens Afzel.[Illegitimate] Ichnocarpus afzelii Roem. & Schult.Secamone leonensis (Scott-Elliot) N. E. Br.Secamone myrtifolia Benth.Toxocarpus leonensis Scott-Elliot
References (3)
  • Achigan-Dako, E, et al (Eds), 2009, Catalogue of Traditional Vegetables in Benin. International Foundation for Science.
  • Dansi, A., et al, 2008, Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2008) 55:1239–1256
  • PROTA

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